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Finnish foreign minister signs document on Finland’s accession to NATO — report

The official ceremony of admission of Finland to NATO will take place in the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto

© AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru

BRUSSELS, April 4. /TASS/. The Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto signed a document on Finland’s accession to NATO at the alliance’s headquarters, the Finnish Broadcasting Company reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the document will now be handed over to US representatives. After that, the republic will become a full member of the alliance.

The Finnish foreign minister called the signing moment a "historic one." According to the Minister, Turkish representatives simultaneously handed over papers on ratification of Finland'’ membership in the alliance to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The official ceremony of admission of Finland to NATO will take place in the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday. The ceremony will be attended by President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen. The republic will become the 31st NATO member state.

Finland filed its membership application together with Sweden in May of 2022, but Sweden’s admission is still blocked by Turkey, because Stockholm has not yet fulfilled all Ankara’s demands on extradition of Kurdish refugees, whom Ankara accuses of terrorism.

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